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Tyler Hunnex - I started/founded/began Let's Go Birds in September of 2007 after feeling like my favorite Junior Hockey team needed more discussion and analysis. I'm statistically minded, forever frustrated by the Tbirds and my all-time favorite player was #10. I think I'm funny and my writing would probably disagree. Follow me on Twitter @TylerHunnex.

Jon Whiting - Jon joined the Let's Go Birds team in the summer of 2013. His passion for the Thunderbirds is as big as any fan I've ever met. His two kids are named after former Tbirds and his favorite all-time players were Patrick Marleau and Olaf "Ole" Kjenstad, who he swears is the best pure scoring Tbird ever.

Hockey Challenge 2014

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8.29.2013

Q&A with General Manager Russ Farwell

General Manager Russ Farwell was generous enough to answer some questions for Jon going into the first exhibition games this weekend up in Everett. Here is what he had to say.

Jon Whiting: From
your perspective, did training camp go as expected?

General
Manager Russ Farwell: Yes, camp went pretty much as expected in a lot of
areas. Returning guys came in good shape and are excited about the
year. We have had very good drafts the last few years and the young
players are a very high quality of skill when looked at as a group.

JW: The format of Rookie Camp seemed to work well this year
because of the influx of quality 16 year old players. Would you agree with
that?

RF: We like
the format because it allows the new drafts to compete for those 4 sessions
against their own age group which give us a good read on where they sit in
their development. We need the 16s in that group because it pushes the
quality of the group and makes everyone play harder. When there are
players like Barzal, Bear, Flodell, Pederson, and Kolesar in the group it
really elevates the level of play for sure.

JW: Did any new players sign
standard WHL agreements?

RF: We will be playing both Vulcan and Elder in the Everett
tournament so they are both signed. We had very good conversations with a
number of other players and hope to be adding them at some point into the new
season.

JW: How was the camp process affected by the addition of two
new assistant coaches?

RF: Training
camp was not altered much by having two coaches (we probably went through more
coffee). But we think the benefits will be in allowing a bit more attention to
detail in the player development area. Besides contributing an opinion
when they meet as a staff Tyler will have specific focus on individual skills
and player development throughout the season.

JW: There appears to be more
American players in camp this year than have been in the past. Would you
attribute that to Coach Konowalchuk or something else? Perhaps increased
scouting presence?

RF: Actually no. We had very few free agents from the US. We
have the guys on our team but hockey starts very early in the US in the fall
and a lot of players were not free to attend due to the start time of our
camp. We were disappointed in the numbers of US players that we had this
year because Colin had identified a fairly large number of US players we were
interested in.

JW: The preseason games are
scheduled against more teams then normal (5) with only playing the same team
twice. Was this a conscious decision to see more teams for scouting
purposes or just luck of the draw?

RF: Just the luck of the draw really. We schedule the date as
much as the opponent at this time of year. We like to play 3 on the first
weekend then the two in Tri and home and home on the last. There is
no need to travel a greater distance in preseason in our opinion.

JW: Can you shed some light on why
you drafted Devon Fordyce in the Bantam Draft as opposed to listing him?

RF: Players that are de-listed as part of the bantam draft process
are eligible in the next round to be drafted. We had interest in him and a
goalie with experience in the league was attractive to us at that time.
We did not feel he would last to the end of the draft to be added as a free
agent.

JW: Is there a date where you would like to be down to two
goaltenders (or maybe you are planning on keeping three or four)?

RF: We need
to play the games and let the guys sort that out themselves. We have no
date we are working towards and we will get down when we have it figured out.

JW: There seemed to be a larger than
normal amount of 20 year olds being traded and or released earlier in the
offseason. Is this just a fluke or are teams in trying to get situated on
their three earlier and did that come into play with the trading of Connor
Sanvido?

RF: I do not know about other teams but we like to get down if
possible. It creates a negative dynamic in the room when you go too long
with more than 3 - 20 year olds because everyone knows only three can
stay. I like to find a place for guys that have been with us for a number
of years so when it comes up we like to move on the opportunity.

JW: The general feeling of fans and
parents I talked to during camp was extreme excitement. Are the players
feeling that kind of excitement as well?

RF: A number of guys were in a day or so early and all of them are
excited to get started. A number of guys have really worked hard and
gained significant strength and that makes all of us excited to see them play.

JW: How active have trade talks been with other clubs? More?
Less? Normal? Especially considering the number of quality defensemen the club
currently has.

RF: Normal
at best. The quality of our defense might be the best kept secret in the
league. I think we need to play some games and let teams see our guys before we
make any moves. We also have to work through the puzzle and see where
guys are at.

JW: The club currently has no
forwards from the ’95 draft class. Is that a concern going into this season and
looking forward towards 2014-15?

RF: No 95’s means a chance for a young player to fill that
spot. We simply need to plan to fill that hole but we are not going to
make trading for an 18 year old forward a priority unless he can help our
team. We have some very good 17 and 16 year old players and 8 19 year old
forwards. We can have 3 of them back in 14-15 and the other guys will have to
fill that gap. We might be able to directly add in that area in the next
Import draft but right now we are focused on this year and this team and next
year will be here soon enough.